Grand is the word to describe this palace. From the outside, one is overpowered by its sheer size and immensity, the interior however is very austere and your initial idea …
Ivan Mandy
Member since December 2005 \ Inactive
#None 0 0
My first introduction with the WHS listings dates back to 1994. I was then 'obsessed' (something totally unthinkable for a highschool student then!) with the subject of Spanish Colonial architecture in my country -the Philippines- and it made me appreciate them more when four of them were included in the List. Cool.
Now,theyve finally had something nice to talk about our country aside from us being Third World and Imelda Marcos' shoes.
My interest have broadend up eversince to include WHS in Southeast and East Asia and further away, North/South America and Europe. I dont think I'll be visiting each one of those places, at least,not in my lifetime but hopefully, enough to make me appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of humanity.
WHS that I've savored:
1. the Philippines
-- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (aka Banawe Rice Terraces)
-- 3 of the Baroque Churches listed
-- Historic City of Vigan
-- St. Paul's underground river, Palawan
2. Canada
-- Historic City of Quebec (at -40 C!!!)
-- Canadian Rockies
-- Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta
-- Almost visited Lunenburg but never did...dang!
3. USA
-- Statue of Liberty (didnt know it was part of the list till now!)
4. Macao, China
5. WHS in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
WHS that I will soon be savroing (in the next 5 years or so!)
1. China (Beijing, Xian, Ping Yao, Suzhou etc)
2 Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An)
3. Thailand ( Ayuthaya)
4. Canada (Lunenburg- finally!)
Should any of you have any questions about Philippine world heritage sites,drop me a mail: ihud78@hotmail.com
My most impressive site: Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Historic center of Macao, works of Gaudi in Barcelona, Salamanca,
My proposal for a new site: Georgetown, Malaysia / Batanes Islands, Philippines / city of Quanzhou,the West Lake in Hangzhou, China / Notre Dame Basilica and Old Town, Montreal
Recent Visits
Top 10 Missing
Completed Countries
- No countries completed yet.
>
About Ivan Mandy
- First name
- Ivan
- Member since
- December 2005
- Country of Origin
- None
Visits
- Rank
- #None
- WHS
- 0
- Tentative Sites
- 0
Website Participation
- Reviews
- 16
- 0 0
- Photos
- N/A
- Locations
- N/A
- Zones
- N/A
Reviews by Ivan ManDy
Summer Palace (Inscribed)
Summer Palace
There is now a subway line albeit an almost hour long train ride to the Summer Palace. After seeing the Forbidden city, this place strikes to me as an over-sized …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/04/11
Mount Taishan (Inscribed)
Mount Taishan
Another Chinese imperial playground! The cable car ride up was very scenic and makes you wonder who on earth where they able to climb the mountain using horses! Looking down, …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/04/11
Temple, Mansion and Cemetery … (Inscribed)
Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius
We were lucky to have a very accommodating and knowledgeable guide (a big plus being able to speak our language) which is perhaps why I really appreciated this place.The whole …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/04/11
Monastery of Batalha (Inscribed)
Monastery of Batalha
I loved Alcobaca for her grand simplicity, a perfect combination with the delicate beauty of the church at Batalha. After getting all cathedraled-out in Spain, Alcobaca and Batalha sure proved …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 06/09/06
Palau de la Musica Catalana &… (Inscribed)
Palau de la Musica Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau
One of my biggest disappointments in Spain was not being able to see the inside of the Palau Musica but the Hospital was really something to remember Barcelona by. I …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 28/08/06
Guimarães (Inscribed)
Guimarães
Guimaraes is a cute little town at the foot of a mountain. Its not spectacularly amazing but it does exude a certain Iberian charm that is so typcial in these …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 31/07/06
Belem (Inscribed)
Belem
This monastery is jaw-dropping marvelous! And so was the who city of Lisbon! I love the idea of integrating natural forms to gothic architecture to produce this masterpiece of the …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 31/07/06
Monastery of Alcobaça (Inscribed)
Monastery of Alcobaça
I love the grandeur and simplicity of this place. Reminded me of the design addage "Less is More".
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 31/07/06
Rice Terraces of the Philippi… (Inscribed)
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
The Rice Terraces is (if Im not mistaken) the first world heritage site of UNESCO under the 'cultural landscape' title.
It was only when I visited it for the second …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 22/07/05
Macao (Inscribed)
Macao
Finally, a long over-due recognition of one of Southern China's most historic yet misinterpreted gems!
Little Macao, a stone throw away from one of the world's most modern cities -Hong-Kong- …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 21/07/05
Québec (Inscribed)
Québec
I visited Quebec at one of the craziest times of the year- January. I remember walking the streets and the temperature was -40 C (including the windchill). I loved the …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/05/05
Baroque Churches (Inscribed)
Baroque Churches
The very first WHS I visited. San Agustin in Manila (one of the 4 listed) was where we once had a school trip. It wasnt one of the things I …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/05/05
Statue of Liberty (Inscribed)
Statue of Liberty
Probablly one of the most familiar World Heritage Sites anywhere (for better of for worse!). I didnt realize it belong to the list till three years after I've visited it!
…
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/05/05
Vigan (Inscribed)
Vigan
My first trip to visit historic northern city was with a group shutter bugs from a local photography club. Unfortunately for us, we had a small incident with 2 drunk …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/05/05
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean … (Inscribed)
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River
My most vivid remembrance of this river is this:
1. Huge and spectacular salt(?) rock formations.
2. Water was a perfect tropical green.
3. Bats fluttering around.
4. The guides …
Keep reading
Ivan ManDy 01/05/05